Free fulcrumed lever action for the cutting wheel pipe cutter

ABSTRACT

A free fulcrumed yoke supporting the cutting wheel of a ratchet type pipe cutter within a C-shaped cutting head, the yoke embracing a rider guided for lineal movement relative to and on an adjusting screw having a thrust bearing in its head portion fixed to pull the rider upon turning of the screw when the latter has keyed connection with a spring loaded manipulatable adjusting rod provided with finger engageable triggers, and keeper means for holding the triggered rod in retracted position until the keeper is engaged by the head portion of the adjusting screw as it approaches axial alignment with the adjusting rod.

United States Patent [191 Kelley 1 Feb. 13,1973

[54] FREE FULCRUMED LEVER ACTION FOR THE CUTTING WHEEL PIPE CUTTER [76]Inventor: Elmer G. Kelley, 14300 Clayton Road, San Jose, Calif. 95127[22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 116,911

[52] US. Cl .Q. ..30/102, 30/99 Primary Examiner'Robert C. RiordonAttorney-Leslie M. Hansen [57] ABSTRACT A free fulcrumed yoke supportingthe cutting wheel of a ratchet type pipe cutter within a C-shapedcutting head, the yoke embracing a rider guided for lineal movementrelative to and on an adjusting screw having a thrust bearing in itshead portion fixed to pull the rider upon turning of the screw when thelatter has keyed connection with a spring loaded manipulatable adjustingrod provided with finger engageable triggers, and keeper means forholding the triggered rod in retracted position until the keeper isengaged by the head portion of the adjusting screw as it approachesaxial alignment with the adjusting rod.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 13 I915 INVENTOR ELMER G. KELLEYHIS ATTORNEY j FREE FULCRUMED LEVER ACTION FOR THE CUTTING WHEEL PIPECUTTER BACKGROUND This invention relates to a ratchet type pipe cutterand more particularly to certain novel improvements in construction andoperation thereof.

The present invention is directed to improvements in a ratchet pipecutter of the type as disclosed and described in my U.S. Pat. No.2,782,500 which issued Feb. 26, I957. The improvements over my priorpatent reside in a more simplified construction both from the standpointof manufacture and assembly as well as to the achievement of a moreefficient and effective operation in the cutting of pipe thereby. Inconjunction with the disclosure of my prior patent, the Thomas U.S. Pat.No. 882,432 dated Mar. 17, 1908 has been considered and found wanting inthe lack of sufficient leverage and ease of operation in comparison withthe improvements set forth in the instant application.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION The present invention has as a principal objectthe provision of a simplified form of leverage for the cutting wheel inthe cutting head of a pipe cutter. This object contemplates thetransmission of a lineal thrust into a lever action for urging thecutting wheel toward the pipe with a minimum of effort on the part ofthe operator of the tool.

It is another object to provide in the C shaped cutting head of aratchet type pipe cutter, a yoke type lever for supporting the cuttingwheel between a pair of lever arms having their outer ends fulcrumedwithin the cutting head and their inner ends straddling a screw operatedrider to which they are pivotally connected by a pin the ends of whichextend into slots formed in the cutter head parallel to the screw forguiding the rider and forceably urging the lever arms and cutting wheeltoward cutting engagement with a pipe disposed within the C shapedcutting head.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following description and claims when read in thelight of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of a pipecutter embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the pipe cutter to illustrateparts of FIG. 1 assembled;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the handle end of FIG. 2 as seen from above inFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 2 and showingthe opposite half side thereof.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION the internal wall of the C-shaped body 11 to effecta one way rotation drive connection between them upon manipulation ofthe handle 12 about the axis of a pipe to be cut.

The C-shaped cutting head 10 has a gap 16 for receiving pipe or tubingto be cut. A pair of presser rollers 17 are mounted on one side of thegap 16 and a cutting wheel 18 is disposed diametrically opposite therollers 17 on a leverage 19 for movement toward and from the rollers 17.The movement of the cutting wheel is controlled by an adjusting screw 20having a rider 21 threadedly mounted on its threaded end for pivotalconnection to the leverage 19.

The adjusting screw 20 is journaled in the cutting head 10 at the bightof the C-shape thereof and at right angles to the parallel legs thereof.When the C-shaped cutting head 10 is in register with the C-shaped body11, the adjusting screw 20 is in axial alignment with the tubular handle12. A rod 22 extending co-axially of and within the handle 12 has anhexagonally shaped end 23 adapted to have keyed connection with and tofit into a similarly shaped recess formed in the connecting or head end25 of the adjusting screw 20. The rod 22 is normally urged toward theadjusting screw 20 by a compression spring 26 confined within the handle12 in a manner well known in the art. It is only when the C- shapedcutting head 10 and C-shaped housing 11 are in register that theadjusting screw 20 can be turned. Turning of the adjusting screw isaccomplished by turning of a T shaped head 27 slidably keyed to the freeend of the rod 22 as at 22 and mounted for turning movement on the freeend of the handle 12.

When the C-shaped cutting head and C-shaped housing are in register, apipe P to be out can be inserted into the gap 16 provided. The depth ofcut into the pipe P is progressively increased by manual turning of theT shaped head 27 each time the cutting wheel 18 has completed one ormore turns about the pipe. It is the degree of pressure and the easewith which this pressure can be applied with the present structure thatentails the improvement of the present embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the presser rollers 17are pivotally mounted in a block 28 so as to expose the rollers 17 tothe gap 16 for tangential engagement with a pipe P disposed therein. Theblock 28 is mounted in the C-shaped cutting head 10 on that leg thereofadjacent the handle side of the cutter housing ll when the latter is inregister with the cutting head. In other words, adjacent the head end 25of the adjusting screw 20.

The cutter wheel 18 and leverage 19 is disposed on the opposite leg ofthe C-shaped cutting head 10, i.e., diametrically opposite the pressurerollers 17. The arrangement is such that the leverage l9 and cuttingwheel 18 is to be pulled toward the handle side of the C-shaped housing11 when setting the wheel 18 for the depth of cut into a pipe P in thegap 16.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the cutting head 10 is constructed ofsplit C-shaped halves 31 and 32 of substantially identicalconfigurations. Each of these split halves is provided with companionprojections serving various purposes in the assembly and construction ofthe instant invention. In addition to the provision of mounts for pawlsI3 and 14 on each of the halves 31 and 32 there is also provided bearingboss halves 33 and 34 for a thrust bearing 35 to receive and support thehead end 25 of the adjusting screw 20. From these bearing boss halves 33and 34, guide shoulders 36-37 extend parallel to the adjusting screw 20for engagement with one flat surface of the rider 21 on the screw 20.Each split half 31 and 32 is also provided with a fulcrum block in thefarm of fixed abutments 38-39 ad jacent its outer end and inwardly thegap 16 of that leg of their C-shape, which leg is opposite the onesupporting the presser rollers 17 in the cutting head 10.

The leverage 19 comprises a pair of lever arms 40 and 41 each of dog-legshape having their enlarged ends 42 pivotally connected to the rider 21by a pin 43. The pin 43 has its ends extending into grooves 44 and 45formed on the respective halves 31 and 32 of the cutting head 10. Thesegrooves 44 and .45 are formed parallel to the adjusting screw 20 andserve to guide the rider 21 parallel thereto upon turning of the rod 22by manipulation of the T shaped head 27 on the end of the handle 12.

The opposite ends 46 of the lever arms 40-41 are united by a cross pin47 having its ends extending into grooves 47' formed in the outer endsof the halves 31-32 between the gap 26 and the fixed abutments 38-39.The grooves are slightly wider than the diameter of the ends of thecross pin 47 for guiding the ends 46 of the lever arms substantiallyparallel tothe gap 16 and for simultaneous bearing against the fulcrumblocks provided by the fixed abutments 38 and 39 when the rider 21 isdrawn toward the handle by manipulation of the adjusting screw 20.

The lever arms 40-41 are likewise united by an axle shaft 48 whichextends through the cutting wheel 18 at the knee portion of the dog-leglever arms 40 and 41. By this arrangement the cutting head diametricallyop- ,posite the presser rollers 17 and disposed to advance its cuttingedge into the gap 16 upon fulcrumed action of the leverage 19 againstthe fixed abutments as above explained.

It should here be noted that the two split halves 31 and 32 of theC-shaped cutting head are secured together by three machine screws 50and a fourth such screw 51. Two of the three machine screws 50 extendthrough each of the pawls 13 and 14 for pivotally mounting them in thecutting head 10 whereas the third of these screws 50 extends through thefixed abutment fulcrum blocks 30-39 to secure them together. The fourthmachine screw 51 extends through the mounting block 28 for the rollers17, which block 28 is embraced between projections on the split C-shapedhalves 31 and 32 to maintain the rollers 17 at the diametrical axis ofthe C-shaped cutting head 10. By this latter arrangement the mountingblock '28 is adjustable diametrically transversely of the C-shapedcutting head 10. For this reason each of the split halves 31 and 32 ofthe cutting head is provided with at least two bored holes 52 and 52'along the diametrical axis of the C-shaped cutting head either of whichholes may receive the machine screw 51 in addition to the latterproviding a part of the means for securing the split halves 31 and 32together.

Means 53 for retracting the keyed end 23 of the spring leaded rod 22relative to the adjusting screw comprises a trigger 54 disposed adjacentthe T-shaped head 27 on the free end of the handle 12. The trigger 54consists of one or a pair of finger engaging extensions projecting froma hub 55 freely mounted on the rod 22 and extending through a slot orslots 56 in the tubular handle, 12. The hub 55 is disposed to bearagainst a flange 57 on the rod 22 on that side thereof opposite thecompression spring 26. The arrangement is such that when the T-shapedhead 27 is in the palm of a human hand, the first and second fingers ofsuch hand are in a position to engage the triggers 54 and pull the rod22 away from the cutting head 10 against the action of the spring 26,the free end 22' of the rod 22 being shiftable within the T-shaped headon the handle 12.

The hexagonal end 23 of the rod 22 is thus withdrawn from keyedconnection with the adjusting screw 20 and out of the orbit of swing ofthe cutting head 10 within the C-shaped body 11. A spring pressed keeper58 is mounted on the C-shaped body 11, midway between the pawls andratchets and at right angles to the axis of the rod 22 on the handleside of the head end 25 of the adjusting screw 20. The keeper 58 isconstantly urged toward the hexagonal end 23 of the rod 22 such as totraverse the axis thereof when the rod is withdrawn (See FIG. 1). Pinmeans 59 in a milled side 60 of the keeper 58 serves to limit themovement of the keeper beyond blocking position relative to the springloaded rod 22.

The cutting head 10 is thereby released for turning within the C-shapedbody 11 as the handle 12 is turned anti the pawl and ratchet drive anddriven thereby during cutting of the pipe P. As the cutting head 10 isabout to complete one full revolution within the C- shaped body 11, asillustrated by the arrows in H6. 4, the inner end of the keeper 58 isbrought into contact with the head end 25 of the adjusting screw 20. Asthe C-shaped body 11 is moved further anti-the pawl and ratchet driveconnection the keeper 58 is pressed by the head 25 back sufficiently torelease the rod 22 from the keeper. The keeper 58 has a beveled end 61disposed for camming action of the spring loaded rod 22 whereby thelatter forces the keeper out of latching engagement with the rod 22.Thereafter as the adjusting screw 20 becomes aligned axially with therod 22, the hexagonal end 23 of the latter will again be forced into thecompanion recess in the head 25 of the adjusting screw. The rod 22 andadjusting screw are then again in keyed connection as shown in FIG. 2 toenable the person operating the tool to turn the T shaped palm head 27to draw the rider 21 toward the handle 12. Thus the pivoted end of theleverage 19 is again urged toward the handle 12 with the rider to employthe fulcrum action afforded in the leverage between the lever arms 40-41and the fixed abutments 38-39 to force the cutting wheel into the pipeto be cut.

Having'thus described the improvements in my new cutting tool inspecific detail it will be appreciated that the same may be modified,altered and/or varied without departing from the spirit or scope of myinvention therein as called for in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ratchet type pipe cutter tool having a C- shaped cutting headarranged for one way rotative movement within a ratchet formed on aC-shaped body, the C-shaped cutting head and C-shaped body being adaptedupon register with each other to provide a C-shaped gap to receive apipe to be cut, and having a tubular handle extending from the bight ofthe C-shape body in offset relation and transverse to the C-shaped gaptherein for turning the C-shaped body relative to the C-shaped cuttinghead, the combination therewith a. a pair of presser rollers mounted insuch cutting head and supported on the handle side of the C- shaped gaptherein when the cutting head is in register with the C-shaped body;

b. an adjusting screw journaled in the cutting head for axial alignmentwith the tubular handle during register of the C-shaped cutting headwith the C- shaped housing and having a keyed connecting end disposed tothen face the handle side of the C- shaped body;

. a spring loaded retractable drive rod turnably mounted within thetubular handle and having an inner keyed end urged toward and adaptedfor keyed connection to the keyed connecting end of said adjusting screwfor turning the latter;

(1. a rider threadedly connected to said adjusting screw;

e. fixed abuttments adjacent the open end of said C- shaped cutting headon that side thereof opposite said presser rollers and inwardly of theC-shaped gap of the cutting head;

f. a lever arm mounted in the C-shaped cutting head on that side of thegap thereof opposite said presser rollers, said lever arm having one endpivotally connected to said rider for movement therewith and it oppositeend disposed for fulcrumed bearing against said fixed abutments withinthe C-shaped cutting head;

g. a cutting wheel journaled within said lever arm diametricallyopposite said presser rollers with its cutting periphery disposed toextend into said C- shaped gap and in the plane of rotative movementabout a pipe therein; and

. means between the said opposite end of said lever arm and said cuttinghead for maintaining the said opposite end of the lever arm on that sideof the gap opposite the presser rollers and in fulcruming engagementwith said fixed abutments during movement of said rider by saidadjusting screw.

2. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 1 including guidemeans between said cutting head and said rider comprising:

a. means formed on said cutting head parallel to said adjusting screwand adjacent opposite faces of said rider; and

b. means on said opposite faces of said rider engaging said means formedon said cutting head for guiding said rider parallel to said adjustingscrew during turning of the latter.

3. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 2 including abearing boss therein in the cutting head, and a thrust bearing on thekeyed connecting end of said adjusting screw for maintaining the latterin relatively fixed relation to said cutting head during turning of saidadjusting screw and guided movement of said rider therealong.

4. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 1 including abearing boss therein within the cutting head and a thrust bearing on thekeyed connecting end of said adjusting screw for maintaining the latterin relatively fixed relation to said cutting head during turning of saidadjusting screw and guided movement of said rider there along.

5. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 4 in which saidlever arm is in the form of a dog-leg shaped yoke having two arms andone end thereof embracing said rider, guide slots formed in saidC-shaped cutting head parallel to said adjusting screw and on oppositesides of said yoke arms and rider; and pin means for pivotallyconnecting the embracing ends of said yoke arms to said rider andextending into said guide slots for guiding said rider parallel to saidadjusting screw upon turning of the latter.

6. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 5 in which theopposite ends of said yoke arms have pin and slot guidance within saidcutting head for maintaining said opposite ends of said yoke arms frommovement into the gap in the cutting head and for fulcrumed bearingrelation to said fixed abutments therein.

7. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 6 including aspring urged keeper mounted in the C- shaped body for movementtransversely of the axis of the inner end of said retractable drive rodupon retraction of the latter for holding the drive rod in retractedposition during rotative movement of the cutting head within theC-shaped body, said keeper being disposed in the orbit of rotation ofthe keyed connecting end of said adjusting screw as it approaches axialalignment with said spring loaded drive rod for releasing the latter forkeyed connection to said adjusting screw.

8. The cutting head in accordance with that of claim 7 including a palmgrippable T head rotatably mounted on the free end of the tubular handlefor turning said spring loaded retractable drive rod relative thereto,and finger engageable trigger means on said drive rod in proximity tosaid palm grippable T head for retracting the drive rod against theaction of its spring.

1. In a ratchet type pipe cutter tool having a C-shaped cutting headarranged for one way rotative movement within a ratchet formed on aC-shaped body, the C-shaped cutting head and C-shaped body being adaptedupon register with each other to provide a C-shaped gap to receive apipe to be cut, and having a tubular handle extending from the bight ofthe C-shape body in offset relation and transverse to the C-shaped gaptherein for turning the C-shaped body relative to the C-shaped cuttinghead, the combination therewith of: a. a pair of presser rollers mountedin such cutting head and supported on the handle side of the C-shapedgap therein when the cutting head is in register with the C-shaped body;b. an adjusting screw journaled in the cutting head for axial alignmentwith the tubular handle during register of the C-shaped cutting headwith the C-shaped housing and having a keyed connecting end disposed tothen face the handle side of the C-shaped body; c. a spring loadedretractable drive rod turnably mounted within the tubular handle andhaving an inner keyed end urged toward and adapted for keyed connectionto the keyed connecting end of said adjusting screw for turning thelatter; d. a rider threadedly connected to said adjusting screw; e.fixed abuttments adjacent the open end of said C-shaped cutting head onthat side thereof opposite said presser rollers and inwardly of theC-shaped gap of the cutting head; f. a lever arm mounted in the C-shapedcutting head on that side of the gap thereof opposite said presserrollers, said lever arm having one end pivotally connected to said riderfor movement therewith and it opposite end disposed for fulcrumedbearing against said fixed abutments within the C-shaped cutting head;g. a cutting wheel journaled within said lever arm diametricallyopposite said presser rollers with its cutting periphery disposed toextend into said C-shaped gap and in the plane of rotative movementabout a pipe therein; and h. means between the said opposite end of saidlever arm and said cutting head for maintaining the said opposite end ofthe lever arm on that side of the gap opposite The presser rollers andin fulcruming engagement with said fixed abutments during movement ofsaid rider by said adjusting screw.
 1. In a ratchet type pipe cuttertool having a C-shaped cutting head arranged for one way rotativemovement within a ratchet formed on a C-shaped body, the C-shapedcutting head and C-shaped body being adapted upon register with eachother to provide a Cshaped gap to receive a pipe to be cut, and having atubular handle extending from the bight of the C-shape body in offsetrelation and transverse to the C-shaped gap therein for turning theC-shaped body relative to the C-shaped cutting head, the combinationtherewith of: a. a pair of presser rollers mounted in such cutting headand supported on the handle side of the C-shaped gap therein when thecutting head is in register with the C-shaped body; b. an adjustingscrew journaled in the cutting head for axial alignment with the tubularhandle during register of the Cshaped cutting head with the C-shapedhousing and having a keyed connecting end disposed to then face thehandle side of the C-shaped body; c. a spring loaded retractable driverod turnably mounted within the tubular handle and having an inner keyedend urged toward and adapted for keyed connection to the keyedconnecting end of said adjusting screw for turning the latter; d. arider threadedly connected to said adjusting screw; e. fixed abuttmentsadjacent the open end of said C-shaped cutting head on that side thereofopposite said presser rollers and inwardly of the C-shaped gap of thecutting head; f. a lever arm mounted in the C-shaped cutting head onthat side of the gap thereof opposite said presser rollers, said leverarm having one end pivotally connected to said rider for movementtherewith and it opposite end disposed for fulcrumed bearing againstsaid fixed abutments within the C-shaped cutting head; g. a cuttingwheel journaled within said lever arm diametrically opposite saidpresser rollers with its cutting periphery disposed to extend into saidC-shaped gap and in the plane of rotative movement about a pipe therein;and h. means between the said opposite end of said lever arm and saidcutting head for maintaining the said opposite end of the lever arm onthat side of the gap opposite The presser rollers and in fulcrumingengagement with said fixed abutments during movement of said rider bysaid adjusting screw.
 2. The cutting tool in accordance with that ofclaim 1 including guide means between said cutting head and said ridercomprising: a. means formed on said cutting head parallel to saidadjusting screw and adjacent opposite faces of said rider; and b. meanson said opposite faces of said rider engaging said means formed on saidcutting head for guiding said rider parallel to said adjusting screwduring turning of the latter.
 3. The cutting tool in accordance withthat of claim 2 including a bearing boss therein in the cutting head,and a thrust bearing on the keyed connecting end of said adjusting screwfor maintaining the latter in relatively fixed relation to said cuttinghead during turning of said adjusting screw and guided movement of saidrider therealong.
 4. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 1including a bearing boss therein within the cutting head and a thrustbearing on the keyed connecting end of said adjusting screw formaintaining the latter in relatively fixed relation to said cutting headduring turning of said adjusting screw and guided movement of said riderthere along.
 5. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 4 inwhich said lever arm is in the form of a dog-leg shaped yoke having twoarms and one end thereof embracing said rider, guide slots formed insaid C-shaped cutting head parallel to said adjusting screw and onopposite sides of said yoke arms and rider; and pin means for pivotallyconnecting the embracing ends of said yoke arms to said rider andextending into said guide slots for guiding said rider parallel to saidadjusting screw upon turning of the latter.
 6. The cutting tool inaccordance with that of claim 5 in which the opposite ends of said yokearms have pin and slot guidance within said cutting head for maintainingsaid opposite ends of said yoke arms from movement into the gap in thecutting head and for fulcrumed bearing relation to said fixed abutmentstherein.
 7. The cutting tool in accordance with that of claim 6including a spring urged keeper mounted in the C-shaped body formovement transversely of the axis of the inner end of said retractabledrive rod upon retraction of the latter for holding the drive rod inretracted position during rotative movement of the cutting head withinthe C-shaped body, said keeper being disposed in the orbit of rotationof the keyed connecting end of said adjusting screw as it approachesaxial alignment with said spring loaded drive rod for releasing thelatter for keyed connection to said adjusting screw.